Chapter 7
We are both soaking wet and covered in mud when we return to the building that Iroh and Zuko have been staying in while Iroh has been recovering from I've learned was a lightning wound. I guess that was what sparked the whole idea of Zuko learning how to redirect lightning. Apparently Zuko's sister shot him.
Apparently, Zuko can't shoot lightning.
I don't have a change of clothes, so I just spread out my cloak again and try to fall asleep. It's going to be embarrassing waking up screaming in front of the firebenders, but I have no other choice. Zuko disappears for a few minutes to change.
I've barely dozed off when I'm woken by smothering fabric covering me. I rip the fabric off my face and sit bolt upright, holding it up. "What the—"
"Dry clothes," Zuko explains. I flush at my overreaction and mumble a quick thank-you. I head into the neighboring building to change. The clothes fit poorly, considering they are Zuko's. The sleeveless tunic reveals a bit too much of my side, and I'm glad for my breast binding that wrap around my upper torso.
I have to tie a piece of rope around my waist to keep the pants on, but the baggy pants don't look too bad, and, more importantly, they're comfortable. When I walk back in the room, I see Zuko raise an eyebrow at the shirt, but he just shakes his head and stretches his arms above his head.
I lay back down on the cloak, glad that the night's here are warm, and slowly make my way into the world of sleepers.
"I like your hair," Zuko says sarcastically, laughing as I struggle to shoot my bow. Zuko's clothes are too big, and they flap in the wind, tangling up my arms and my legs until I fall over and I am unable to regain my feet.
"Zuko, help!" I call, and he walks over to me. He scoops up my bow and walks away. I close my eyes, tears leaking out of them, and lay like that for a long time. When I hear the footsteps, I think Zuko's come back to help me, but it's the firebending leader.
He steps on my hair, and I gasp in pain. "I like your hair," he rasps, grabbing it and yanking me to my feet. The huge clothes are gone, and I'm back in my cloak, but my bow is still gone.
"Please," I beg, "let me go." The leader just snickers and blasts a fireball at me. I scream, feeling the pain wrack my body. Then he carries me over to the edge of the canyon and dumps me over the side. I start screaming, and I scream until I hit the bottom.
When I wake, screaming of course, I'm locked in the fetal position, and Iroh and Zuko are hovering over me nervously. I gingerly unlock my arms from around my knees and straighten my legs. I sit up, wishing I could throw up.
Iroh hands me a cup of tea and says, "It seems you've not had an easy time lately, huh?" I shrug.
"You're trembling," Zuko points out. I take a long sip of the tea, burning my tongue, but I don't care. For some reason, I don't want their comfort. I want to be in the middle of the woods, where I can cry in peace. Zuko drapes my cloak over my shoulders, but I stand up, and it falls off.
"Be right back," I mumbled, and spring outside. Then I'm running, as hard and far as I can, until I end up by the canyon wall where I first saw Zuko and his uncle. I sigh, glad to have a bit of peace, when I remember the end of my dream and shriek, running back towards the town.
I finally collect myself enough to return back to the firebenders. When I enter, they glance up, eyes filled with worry. I rub my eyes and avoid their gazes. I manage to not talk to either of them about my dream until Zuko and I are out by the stream, collecting water.
"Do you still have my water skin?" he asks. I flush.
"No."
"Well, why not?" he asks, irritated. I clench my fists, wanting to make some sassy remark about his fiery temper.
"I threw it in a river," I answer honestly. His golden eyes widen and he looks furious. Curiosity eventually overcomes this though.
"Why?"
"Because I didn't want anything a firebender had touched," I say stiffly. He cracks up, and I know it's because I wearing his clothes, but I don't reply, afraid that I'll say something reckless and want to take it back but be unable to.
"What did firebenders ever do to you?" he asks playfully. As soon as the words are out, his face darkens, and I know what he's thinking.
"Besides tearing the world apart through a one hundred year war?" I ask. "They killed my parents two weeks ago." Beside me, Zuko freezes. If he expected an answer, it definitely wasn't this one.
"I'm so sorry," he says.
"Whatever," I say, trying not to cry. Zuko must know that I don't want to talk about it, but continues speaking anyway.
"Was that what your dream was about?" he asks.
"Lately, that's all my dreams are ever about. The man that killed them and—" I cut off, blushing furiously. Zuko notices and frowns.
"And what?" he asks.
"Nothing," I say, trying to act nonchalant, "just that man and fire and last night I dreamed that he threw me off the canyon wall."
"Oh," he says, surprised. I let out a relieved breath.
There is no way that I'm going to tell him that he's had a starring role in my dreams since the day I saw him fight.
